NBA roundup: Rick Adelman joins 1,000-win club

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Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman is 1,000-703 in his 22-year career.

Associated Press
April 07, 2013

Rick Adelman became the eighth coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games when the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Detroit Pistons, 107-101, Saturday night in Minneapolis.

Nikola Pekovic had 20 points and 13 rebounds and J.J. Barea scored 20 points for the Timberwolves, who surrounded their 66-year-old coach when the buzzer sounded. Adelman grabbed his wife, Mary Kay, and kissed her three times as a video tribute played to honor him.

Brandon Knight scored 25 points and Rodney Stuckey had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Pistons, who have lost 18 of their last 21 games. They turned the ball over a season-high 24 times, leading to 25 points for Minnesota.

As the clock wound down, chants of ‘‘Adelman! Adelman!’’ rained down from the crowd, and the coach who has always been reluctant to be in the spotlight met his wife on the sideline for an emotional hug and kiss.

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‘‘She had to be here,’’ he said after the game. ‘‘She’s the reason I've been able to do this all these years.’’

Adelman is 1,000-703 in his 22-year career. He joined Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown, and George Karl in the exclusive club.

Heat 106, 76ers 87 — LeBron James scored 27 points in his return from a strained right hamstring, five other Miami players reached double figures, and the Heat moved closer to securing home-court advantage for the entire NBA playoffs by topping visiting Philadelphia.

James had missed Miami’s last three games, was cleared to return after some pregame testing, and shot 12 for 17 from the field. The Heat were without Dwyane Wade (sore ankle and knee) and Chris Bosh (sore right knee).

Wizards 104, Pacers 85 — John Wall scored 37 points in a display of speed and flair to lead host Washington past Indiana.

Wall made 16 of 25 shots, throwing his palms up after making an improbable 14-foot sideways runner. He even blocked a layup attempt by Roy Hibbert, the 6-foot-4-inch point guard rising to swat the ball away from the 7-2 Pacers center.

Wall also had 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks for the lottery-bound Wizards, who have won nine straight at home and are 18-4 at the Verizon Center this season when he’s on the floor.

Nets 105, Bobcats 96 — Deron Williams had 32 points and six assists as host Brooklyn strengthened its hold on fourth place in the Eastern Conference by beating Charlotte.

Brook Lopez added 19 points and backup Andray Blatche had 16 as the Nets completed a four-game sweep of the NBA-worst Bobcats.

Brooklyn moved 1½ games ahead of Chicago for the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Bucks 100, Raptors 83 — Monta Ellis had 22 points and nine assists as host Milwaukee secured its first playoff berth in three seasons with a victory over Toronto.

Brandon Jennings had 16 points and seven assists, while Larry Sanders added 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 blocks for Milwaukee, which needed a win and a Miami victory over Philadelphia to clinch at least the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Alan Anderson led Toronto with 14 points off the bench.

Spurs 99, Hawks 97 — Tim Duncan had 31 points and 14 rebounds to help host San Antonio escape with a victory over Atlanta.

Kawhi Leonard added 23 points and DeJuan Blair had 11 for San Antonio.